To emphasize that the Picture of the Month polls are different from other polls around the forum, and that the emphasis should be on the pictures rather than the royal houses for which they represent, instead of the country name, the pictures are embedded into the poll choices this month. To see the image in its full size, click on the thumbnail to enlarge.

This month, our Picture of the Month representatives had help in selecting their images with a small committee of their choosing. Below, you can see each royal house's representative (in bold) followed by their chosen committee members.

Belgium: Mette2 - Dennism, pdas1201 and Danielle

Spain: mtbcm - LaChicaMadrilena, Elsa M., Anna_R

Jordan: Humera - Little_star

Morocco: Humera - Amira

Brunei: Humera - Warren

Monaco: tbhrc - Ianna, Michelle, Iceflower

Japan: mandyy - kei893265, merampo

Norway: purple_platinum - Larzen, LaMinka

Sweden: purple_platinum - Lena, GrandDuchess

Luxembourg: suturegeisha - drimal

The Netherlands: The Watcher - Marengo, Maxie

Britain: princejohnny25 - ysbel, HMQueenElizabethII, Avalon

Denmark: H.M. Margrethe - Mandy, norwegianne, pdas1201

The poll will be open for three weeks. It will close on June 23. During these three weeks, we ask that no one state whom they've voted for so as not to influence other members as they make their choices. For the final week of the month, you can discuss as much as you'd like about which image you voted for and why.

Please note that the pictures in the above poll have been posted in a random order, first by their shape (portrait or landscape), and do not reflect any personal feelings of The Moderating Team.

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__________________"One thing we can do is make the choice to view the world in a healthy way. We can choose to see the world as safe with only moments of danger rather than seeing the world as dangerous with only moments of safety."

Queen Beatrix, prince Willem-Alexander, princess Maxima and the little princesses are going to make their first boat trip of the season at Queen Beatrix's boat 'De Groene Draeck'. Source: AFP

B. Luxembourg

Grand Duke Henri, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, and Princess Alexandra of Luxembourg on an official visit with Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican on May 8. Source: Corbis

C. Japan

Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko visit a nursery school in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward on May 8, 2006. The imperial couple visit facilities for children every year around May 5, Children's Day, a national holiday in Japan. Source: Profimedia

D. Jordan

May 31, 2006 - Prince Hamzah and wife Princess Noor having fun during a graduation ceremony at the Prince Hamzah Circassian School in Amman. Source: Yahoo/REUTERS

E. Belgium

Philippe and Mathilde visit 'La Ferme Nos Pilifs' - a farm for disabled people in Neder-over-Heembeek in Brussels on May 22nd. Source: Belga

F. Denmark

Crown Princess Mary enjoys some playtime on a trampoline whiel visiting Julemærkehjem, a home for children with weight problems. Source: Rex Features (Hello Magazine)

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__________________"One thing we can do is make the choice to view the world in a healthy way. We can choose to see the world as safe with only moments of danger rather than seeing the world as dangerous with only moments of safety."

Chelsea flower show is famous for its unusual flower compositions. The Royal brothers, Prince Charles and Prince Andrew didn’t even try to hide their amusement at the look of one of them. Source: Hello Magazine/Rex

H. Dubai

May 1, 2006 - A memorable birthday for Princess Haya as she celebrates the occassion two days in advance at a gala dinner in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. She'd also just been elected president of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI). The Princess beat out stiff competition including fellow royal Princess Benedikte of Denmark. Source: dpa

I. Monaco

May 8th, 2006 Salem, Germany: Princess Alexandra of Hanover having fun with her parents Princess Caroline and Prince Ernst-August. The family was in Germany to attend the commemoration for the 100th birthdays of Berthold and Theodora of Baden. Source: Seegerpress / Neue Post

J. Norway

Norway's future queen, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, wore her very first 'bunad' originally from region of Hardanger.Every National Day, on May 17, the crownprincely family goes outside their home and watched the children parade.This year, Crown Prince Haakon & Crown Princess Mette-Marit took their 3 children, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, Prince Sverre Magnus & Marius. Here, Princess Ingrid Alexandra watched the children parade intently & with serenity as it passed Skaugum. Source : RPE

K. Sweden

Princess Madeleine of Sweden walks down the steps of the Winter Garden during a gala dinner for the Volvo Ocean Race 11 May 2006 in New York City. The World Childhood Foundation, founded by her mother, Queen Silvia, is honored as the official charitable organization of the race. Princess Madeleine accompanied her parents, King Carl Gustav & Queen Silvia to the gala dinner, as the Swedish royal couple visited New York for a couple of days. Source : Michael Nagle/Getty

L. Spain

At Laureus Gala, a very elegant Crown Princess Letizia is pictured framed by her husband Crown Prince Felipe and His Majesty King Juan Carlos of Spain. Source: Hola.es

__________________"One thing we can do is make the choice to view the world in a healthy way. We can choose to see the world as safe with only moments of danger rather than seeing the world as dangerous with only moments of safety."

Wow, another great month of pics to choose from. I hope everybody likes the selection of pics from the royals' events in May.

I'd like to remind people NOT TO STATE WHO YOU VOTED FOR until the poll is finished on June 23.

__________________"One thing we can do is make the choice to view the world in a healthy way. We can choose to see the world as safe with only moments of danger rather than seeing the world as dangerous with only moments of safety."

Well I have to admit I'm a bit bummed out. I was actually in the building where Madeleine appeared in the Winter Garden at the gala event but I didn't know she was there.

Its the office building where I work and I saw the catering staff prepare a very lavish feast but I was working late and wanted to get home so I missed out on the opportunity to see the King, Queen and Madeleine.

__________________"One thing we can do is make the choice to view the world in a healthy way. We can choose to see the world as safe with only moments of danger rather than seeing the world as dangerous with only moments of safety."

I have a feeling the votes are going to be very close this time. :) Thanks to everybody who helped choose the pictures and took the time to make this wonderful poll. There's a lot of great pictures and it's a bummer we can only choose one!